Thermostatic gas control



All@ 2f 1932 H. w. PRICE g f THERMOSTATIG GAS CONTROL l origina; Fiied nec. 22, 1927 2 sheets-sheet 1 H. W. PRICE THERMOSTATIC GAS CONTROL Aug; z, 1932.,

original Filed Dag. 22,1927 2 sheets-sheet 2 [n )fen for. Haro/dw Price- Patented Aug. 2, 19.32v

` UNITED STATESPATENT OFFICE l,

HAROLD W. PRICE, OF TORONTO, ONTARIO, CANADA, .ASSIGNOR BY' MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO GEORGIE WALTON RYAN, F NEW YORK, N. Y.

'rnmmosrarrc ses CONTROL REIS'SUED 'Application led December 22, 1927, Serial No. 241,930. Renewed Iarch 4, 1931.

The principal objects of this invention are to provide a device which will automatically operate effectively in the opening of the supply of' gas to a burner.

5, A`further object is to devise a simple form of structure whichwill be very dependable in its operation, will 4be economical to build and vwill not deteriorate through use,and

which may be taken apart and reassembled with ease and accuracy.

The principal features of the invention consist in the novel construction and arrangef ment of parts, whereby the gas valve is operated to open or close with la snap action le through the impact of a pivotal arm thereagainst which is operated through the action of a spring which swings either side of the pivot support of said arm through'the action of a lever co-operating 'with a thermostatic 2u element.

, In the drawings,l Figure 1 is a longitudinal elevational part sectional view of my improved thermostatic device.l

Figure 2 is a perspective view ofthe main casing enclosing the gas valve, the cover being removed; 4 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective detail of the adj ustable balancing fulcrum for the main operating lever.

Figure 4 is a perspective detail of the valve operating arm or flip lever. Figure 5 is a cross section of the regulatlng member.

Referring to the accompan 'ng drawings, the valve casing is formed o a rectangular frame 1 which is preferably formed open at the sides and is provided with a plurality of screw holes 2'extendirig in from the edges thereofinto which suitable screws vare inserted to secure the face plates 3 thereto. A boss 4 is formed on one side of the frame and it is threaded internally to receive the gas supply pipe and an opening 5 'extends into the casing. j

frame adjacent to one sidethereof and it is threaded to receive the gas outlet pipe. A recess 7 is formed at the inner side of the opening 8 and extending through the boss 6 i and thevalve seat 9 is beddedy therein. This and closing the top of the frame 1 and this boss is proencircling the sleeve 20.

A boss 6 is formed on the bottoni of the `19 is arranged therein threaded surface of the opening 15 and locks valve seat is preferably formed of a soft alloy, such as a mixture of lead and tin. 'A flanged extension 10 is formedon the outer face of the side of the frame opposite to the boss 4 and a ferrule 11` is preferably cast into the metal of the fra-me to extend through same and to project outwardly'beyond the frame, said ferrule being preferably Y formedjof brass and having a threaded outer end 12 adapted to be inserted into Ythe entrance leading to a water reservoir or tank.

The brass lnsert is provided for the particular purpose of preventing contact between ,the water in the tank and the aluminumor zinc alloy of which the frame 1 is formed, thereby obviating a. destructive electrolytic action that would deleteriously ai'ect the casing at its point of connection with the tank.

A boss 13 is moulded at the inner side of.

vided with an integral downwardly extending at lug 14.

j The boss 13 is perforated longitudinallljy; by a threaded opening 15 and a countersi 16 is formed at the` outer end. j

A cap screw 17 is threaded into the outer end of the opening 15 andthe anged head 'thereof is sealed against a gasket arranged in the countersink.

A screw member 18 is'threaded in the opening 15 being rovided with avslot 19 in the outer end andl having a sleeve extension 20:

gat itsinner end.

A screw 21 is threaded into an opening extendin into the sleeve end of the screw'18 and a cy 'ndrical member 22 is mounted on the head end of the said screw 21 and a vspiral compression spring 23 is supported between I i the memberv 22 and the screw 18, said spring This .device provides a spring regulating member arranged within the threaded boss with the cylindrical member 22 mounted onl the screw 21 projecting beyond the inner end for a purpose as ,will hereinafter. appear.

The screw 18 is formed with a hole lfex` vtending across the head and a spiral spring and engages the the screw from displacement through vibra- 10c 50 with a solder tion particularly while the device is being handled.

A member 24 provided with a pair of parallel arms 25 slidably engages the under-V side of' the top section of the frame 1, the arms 25 extending either side of the boss 13 which. thus forms a. guide.

A downwardly extending lug 26, arranged between the arms 25, forms the main lever support and a pair of wardly at each side of said lug.

The main lever 28 is formed with a bevelled oiset knife edge 29 vwhich rests against the outer face ofthe lug 26 and engages the underside of the arms 27.

The lever 28 which bears on a knife edge pivot extends downwardly and is formed with an offset 30 intermediate of its length and a right angle bend 31 at the bottom.

A plate 32 is secured to the upper end of the main lever on the side away from its knife-edge pivot and this plate is 'formed with atapered recess 33 to receive the point of a rod 34 bearing against the lever 28 which g5 rod extends into the thermostatic tube.

The thermostatic tube is a composite structure formed of an outer tube 35, preferably of copper or brass which is threaded into the brass insert ferrule 1l.

A flexible corrugated thermostatic tube 36 extends into the tube 35 from its inner end and the inner ends of both of said tubes are sealed in a solder joint 38 to the brass insert.

The inner end of the corrugated tube 36 85 is open to the interior of the trame 1 and the outer end thereoit has securely soldered therein a plug 38 which is provided with a conical seat 39 in which the outer rounded end of the rod 34 rests.

The rod 34 is held in place by the pressure of a compression spring 40 which is arranged between the dat lug 14 and the main lever 28 and maintains a continuous the lever and said rod.

The outer end ot the tube 35 is sealed, rst with a brass plug 41 threaded into the tube over which is placed a filling of litharge which is enclosed at the outer side by a brass plug 42 and the extremity of the tube is closed iiller 43. llhe litharge orms an eliective seal to retain the oil in the tube.

The tube 35 is iilled with oil prior toits being sealed and the volumetric expansion and contraction of the oil under changing 55 temperatures increases or relieves the prespressure against sure on the corrugated tube 36 and the result.

ant movement of the plug 38 is transmitted through the rod 34 to the main lever 28.

A bridge 44 in the form of a sheet metal i Q0 stamping extends across the frame 1 adjacent `to its lower end, said bridge being formed with a pair of spaced bars 45 at one end, which bars are bent downwardly to form a pair of V'shaped bearings 46.

e5 The bridge is lsecured in position, having arms 27 extend downdered permanently one end inserted into the notches l47 formed in the inner wall of the frame and the ends of the vspaced bars 45 are placed in the .notches 48 on the other side of the Jframe.

A flip lever 49 is formed of a thin piece of sheet metal bent at substantially a right an le and having knife-edge bearings 50 or.

-eit er side ot' its upright portion adapted to bear in the V bearings 46 in the bridge 44.

Thelever 49 is formed withoa central slot 51 and the lower end of the main lever 28 extends through the the flip lever.

The right angularly bent portion 31 o the main lever is provided with a notch 52 on the underside and this notched end extends be neath the V bearing portion of the bridge 44 and swings thereunder' in accordance with the movement of the thermostat rod 34.

A coil sprin 53 is suspended from the upper end of the ip lever 49 and is hooked into the notched end 52 of the main lever and as the said end 52 of the main lever moves to either one side or the other ot the pivot point of the lever 49 the said lever49 is tilted with a movement accelerated by the pull of the spring and the free end of the lever moves up and down with a very sharp snap action due to the fact that the top end of the lever 49 swings past the point or" leverage simultaneous with the movement of the main lever carrying the bottom end of the spring past the lever ulcrum in the same direction.

A valve 54 which is Jformed with a part spherical face rests upon the valve seat 9 closing the entrance to the gas pipe leading 'from the casing.

The threaded stem 55 of said valve extends into a tubular guide 56 rigidly secured to the bridge 44.

A flanged spool 57 is threaded on the valve stem 55 and is secured in an adjusted position by a lock nut 58 or it is preferably sol in place.

The free end of the flip lever 49 extends between the ilanges or' the spool 5'? and is preferably provided at its end with a notch 60 which allows the extremities of the lever to engage the flanges ot the spool at points diametrically opposite the centre thereof. The flanges ozt the spool are spaced apart so that the free end of the lever has considere bridge 44 and slot 510i able latitude of movement and acquires its 1 is completely enclosed by the face plates 3 which with the lframe 1 form a gas tight cashe compression spring 40 maintains a constant contact between the main lever and the rod 34 and the operating endet the lever 28 and the spring 53 is retained in constant tension holding the free end of the flip lever in a position eitherdown or up according to the position of the lmain lever.

The temperature regulatin operation of the main lever is regulated an limited by the movement of the slidable'member 24 whichv forms the main lever bearing contact, such regulation being effected by the adjustment of the cylindrical member 22 carried by the screw 2l mounted on the adjustable screw 18 arranged in they boss 13.v The coil spring 23 is sufficiently stii to resist any pressure exerted by the thermostatic action but prevents the possibility of damage to the mechanism through improper adjustment of the screw 18.

In the operation of this device the thermostat is secured in a tank, the contents of which are to be maintained at a predetermined temperature, the threaded end of the brass insert beingscrewed into the tank so that the thermostatic tube is immersed in the fluid contained in the tank.

The 'temperature of the fluid within the tank effects a volumetric change in the oil enclosed in the tube.35 and as it expands or contracts the pressure 'against the corrugated tube and the rod 34 carried thereby is varied so that the lever 30 is swung on its pivot so that the lower end thereof will swing beneath the V bearings in the bridge dextending across the frame. This swinging movement of the main lever carries the spring 53 with it in the manner described and as it swings in either direftion past the vertical centre line of support cf the flip lever, said lever is tilted with a sharp snap action so that a corresponding movement is imparted to the valve 54 to efther open or close the passage leading from the gas chamber within the frame. This snap action of the valve eliminates the dangers'of back firing in the burner.

The device iscntirely mechanical in its operation. t is simple and rugged in its construction and will not be liable to get out of order. Thel adjustments are simple and once properly mail@ will remain indefinitely so. A dependable and economical form of thermostat is thus produced.

Vvvhat I claim as my invention is zl. Thermostatic fiuid control mechanism comprising a lever, a thermostatic member engaging said lever, a yieldable fulcrum for said lever, a fluid valve, an actuating lever `for said valve, and extensible means extending between the first named lever and the a ating lever and directly connected tc bean, of same-and exerting tension therebetween, said extensible `means being nim-*able aereas the fulcrum point of said actuating lever on movementof said first named lever in response tcr thermal changes whereby said actuating lever will be rapidly swung about its ulc-rum point.

2. Thermostatic fluid control mechanism lcomprising a lever, a thermostatic member engaging said lever, a' shiftable fulcrum for said lever movable in a direction substantiali 1y parallel to the direction of movement of said thermostatic member, yieldable means engaging said ulcrum and acting to urgethe lever toward said thermostatic member,

means for altering theeflective thrust of said `the actuating lever and secured thereto and exerting tension therebetween, said extensible means being movable across the fulcrum point of said actuating lever on movement of said first named lever in response to the thermal changes whereby said actuating lever will be rapidly swungabout its fulcrum point.

3. A thermostatic gas control, comprising a casing, a main lever mounted within said casing, a flexibly supported pivot supporting said main lever, a thermostatic member engaging said main lever and holding it in contact with said flexible support, a gas valve, a secondary lever operating said gas valve mounted on a fixed pivot, and a tension spring extending between the secondary lever and the main lever and adapted to swing said secondary lever to either side of its pivotal centre on the movement of the main lever.

4c. A thermostatic gas control, comprising a casing, a member slidably arranged Within said casing and forming a pivot support for the main lever, a main lever having a pivotal edge'contacting 'with-said slidable support at a fixed pointrelative thereto, a spring engaging the main lever, a thermostatic member engaging said main lever in opposition to said spring, said main lever support being slidable longitudinally of said thermcstat member, a spring connected to the free end of the main lever and arranged substantially parallel with the main lever, a secondary lever mounted in said casing on a fixed pivot and having an extension beyond said pivot disposed substantially parallel with. the main lever and connected with one end of the secondary lever, a as valve operatively-connected with A'the other' end of the secondary lever, and means extending through said casing for sliding said main lever pivot point to adjust the position of saine longitudinally of said thermostatic member.

5. A thermostatic gas control, comprising a casing having a thermostatic member xtending from one side thereof, a slidable contactmember arranged within the casing opposits the inner end of said thermostatic member, means for regulating the movement of said slidable member, a lever pivotally engaging said slidable member, means extendiOO ing between said lever and said th'ermostatic member to swing said lever on its pivot, spring means holding said lever in contact with the means extending from the thermostatic member, a gas valve arranged in the casing, a secondary lever pivotally mounted intermediate of its length having one end engaging the gas valve, and a tension spring connected to the other end of the secondary lever and connected to the free end of the main lever and adapted to swing the secondary leverwith a snap movement.

6. le; thermostatic gas control, comprising a casing,a thermostatic element extending from one side oic the casing, a lever co-operating with said tliermostatic element, spring means for holding said lever in engagement with said therinostatic element, a fulcrum member for said lever mounted in said casing and slidably adjustable longitudinally of said thermostat element, means adjustably arrai'iged in said casing for adjusting said fulcrum, a gas valve, a lever operatively connected with the gas valve, and spring means connecting the latter lever with then main lever to operate said gas valve to open or close.

7 A thermostatic gas control, comprising a rectangular-shaped frame open at the sides having gas inlet and outlet openings, a thermostatic member secured in one side ot' said frame, a main lever pivotally mounted within the frame, a bridge member extending across the frame, a valve guided from said bridge member to Yclose the gas outlet, a valve-operating lever pivotally mounted at an intermediate point on said bridge member, a tension spring connecting the valve operating lever with said main lever, and plates closing the sides of said frame.

8. Fluid control mechanism comprising a casing having' inlet and outlet ports for fluid, a member carried by said casing and movable in response to change in physical conditions, a main lever disposed Within said casing and operatively associated with said member, a removable memberl supported within said casing, a valve for controlling one of said ports guided by said removable member, a valve actuating lever ulcrumed on said removable member, and an extensible connection between said levers for swinging said valve actuating lever on movement of said main lever in response to a change in physical conditions.

9. A thermostatic gas control, comprising a rectangular frame cast with a boss at one side thereof with an inlet opening to the interior and a boss on the bottom thereof with an opening to the interior and a boss on the opposite side, a brass insert cast into the latter boss and extending outwardly therefrom` a tubular thermostat secured Within said brass insert, a rigid rod extending into the frame from said tubular thermostat, a-main lever pivoted within the casing and engaging said rod, means for iiexibly holding said lever against said rod, a bridge extending across said frame intermediate of its height, a valve slidably engaging said bridge, a lever pivoted on said bridge and engaging said valve, a spring connecting said main lever and the lever pivoted on said bridge and adapted to operate the latter lever upon the movement oi' the former through the medium of said spring to raise or lower said valve with a snap action, and plates closing the open sides of said frame.

l0. A thermostatic gas control, comprising an open frame having a gas inlet and a gas outlet, a valve closing said gas outlet having a threaded spindle, a-spool adjustably mounted on said valve spindle, a bridge extending across said traine having a guide engaging said valve spindle in sliding contact, asaid bridge having an opening therethrough and depressions in the side members forming V bearing, an angular-shaped lever having knife edges resting in said V bearings and the central portion extending through the opening in said bridge, said lever having a central opening therein, a main lever pivotally mounted in the frame above said bridge and having an end extending through the openings in said bridge and in the aforesaid lever, a coil spring connected with the upper eiid of the lever carried by the bridge and secured to the lower end of the main lever, flexible means for supporting said pivotal main lever, a thermostatic member engaging said main lever, and means for closing said frame. f

l1.. A thermostatic gas control comprising a casino' having gas inlet and outlet ports, a valve for opening or closing one of said ports, a valve operating 'lever pivotally mounted intermediate of its length in the casing having one end operatively engaging said valve and having the other end extending freely beyond said pivotal mounting toward one end of said casing, a main lever pivotally mounted at one end in the end of the casing toward which the valve operating lever extends, the other end of said main lever extending freely beyond the pivot point of said valve operating leverya tension spring connecting the free ends of said valve operating and main levers and extendin across the pivot point of the valve operating lever, said spring being adapted by the movement of said main lever in either direction to occupy a position at either side of said valve lever pivot, and therniostatic means for actuating said main lever.

12. A thermostatic gas control comprising a casing having gas inlet and outlet passages, aivalve for opening or closing said outlet, said valve being slidably mounted and having a pair ottlanges on the stem thereof spaced apart, a valve operating lever pivotally mounted intermediate of its length in V the casing having one end arranged loosely Y ing toward one end of said casing, a main lever pivotally mounted at one end in the end of Y Ithe casing toward which the valve operating lever extends, the other end or said main lever e yaa extending freely beyond the pivot point oi said valve operating lever, a tension spring connecting the free ends of said valve operating and main levers and extending across the pivot point of the valve operating lever, said Y spring being adapted by the movement of said main lever in either direction to occupy a position at either side of said valve lever pivot, and tbermostatic means or actnating said main lever.

13. In a tbermostatic gas control, tbe combination with a casing having inlet andontlet passages and a valve controlling one of said passages, of a main 'thermostatieally operated lever arranged within said casing. a secondary valve-operating lever arranged within said casing, each of said levers having bearing points, bearing supports for said levers, and a spring operatively connecting said ymainland secondaryT levers and supporting each of tbe said levers in their assembled ondary valve-operating lever having' a knife bearing contact with said removable bridge, and a coiled spring operatii'f'ely connecting said main and secondarv'levers, said snring acting to maintain said Alevers and bridge member in their assembled relation in said 15..'In a tbermostatic' gas control, the comb1nat1on with a casing having inlet and out- .let passages and shoulders arranged on tbe opposite walls of said casing, Aoi: a bridge member resting at its ends on said shoulders', a gas control valve mounted on said bridge, a bearing'support. a main lever havinsr an edge contact bear-ina` -at its upper end adantf -ed to bear upwardly against said bearing support and having its lower end extending belowysaid bridge, a secondary lever having an edge contact bearing adapted to bear Y downwardly against said bridge and having a portion extending above Asaid bridge, said secondary lever operatively engaging said valve, and a tension spring operativelyconnecting the lower and upper ends respectively of said main and secondary levers and extending transversely of said bridge, said spring acting to retain said levers and bridge in their assembled relation.

16. In a thermostatic gas control, an upright casing having notches formed in the inner side walls, the upper edge of one of said Y notches being cut away, a bridge member extending between the side walls of said casing having its ends loosely resting in said notches, a main lever, `a secondary valveoperating lever mounted on Said bridge adjacent the cut-away notch, and a spring operatively connecting said main and secondary levers and applying downward pressure to said bridge member to retain the same from upward displacement-in said cut-away notch. l .i HARULD W. PRICE. 

